Laundry hampers with accessible front loading regions

ABSTRACT

Laundry hampers are disclosed that are front loading, in that they permit removal and replacement of individual laundry bags without requiring the bags to be raised significantly in order to remove the laundry bags from a supporting frame. Removable laundry bags are supported, at least in part, by support members, such as front vertical posts having cupped or saddle-shaped supports disposed atop the vertical posts. As a result, the requirement for a top front horizontal bar of the frame is eliminated, permitting the laundry bags to be removed and replaced in position using a substantially horizontal direction of movement. This, in turn, provides ergonomic benefit, as significantly less physical effort is required to both remove and replace the laundry bags.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional applicationSer. No. 14/036,988, filed Sep. 25, 2013, the entirety of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to garment storage and, moreparticularly, to laundry hampers and sorters for storing and pre-sortingof garments prior to laundering them.

2. General Background of the Invention Laundry hampers, and laundrysorters, comprising a garment storage hamper having two or more adjacentstorage compartments within a common housing, have been known for sometime. Today, such laundry sorters, in particular, often feature multipleremovable laundry bags adjacently supported by a common frame. The useof removable laundry bags facilitates pre-sorting of garments by typeprior to washing, such as separating white, light color, and dark colorfabrics, so that each pre-sorted group of garments may be loadeddirectly into a washing machine. The use of removable laundry bagspermits individual loads of pre-sorted laundry to be separatelytransported for placement within a washing machine.

Prior art laundry sorters having removable laundry bags, such as the onedisclosed in U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0157358 A1, are commonly top loading inconstruction, meaning that removal and replacement of each supportedlaundry bag requires that the bag must be vertically lifted above theframe, in order to clear, among other structures, a top front horizontalbar or similar structure of the frame. Particularly during removal ofthe laundry bags, when they may be relatively heavily loaded withgarments, vertically raising the bag above the frame may be cumbersomeor difficult, particularly if the user is not physically strong, isrelatively short in height, or is suffering from lower back pain orother physical ailment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides laundry hampers and sorters that overcomemany of the shortcomings of certain prior art laundry sorters. Inparticular, laundry hampers and sorters are disclosed that are frontloading, meaning that they permit removal and replacement of individuallaundry bags without requiring the bags to be raised significantly inorder to remove the laundry bags from engagement of and storage within asupporting frame.

In the hampers and laundry sorters of the present invention, removablelaundry bags are supported, at least in part, by front vertical postshaving cupped or saddle-shaped supports disposed atop the verticalposts. As a result, the requirement for a top front horizontal bar iseliminated, permitting the laundry bags to be removed and replaced inposition using a substantially horizontal direction of movement. This,in turn, provides a significant ergonomic improvement over certain priorart top loading laundry sorters, as significantly less effort isrequired to both remove and replace the laundry bags.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 an elevated, front perspective view of an embodiment of a laundrysorter of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevated, front perspective view of the frame portion ofthe laundry sorter of FIG. 1 and further including, for illustrativepurposes, only the hanger handle portions of the supported laundry bags;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the laundry sorter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a saddle-shaped support of the laundrysorter of FIG. 1, showing, in particular, a front hook of a singlelaundry bag supported by a first cupped region of the saddle-shapedsupport;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the saddle-shaped support of FIG. 4,showing, in particular, a front hook of a single laundry bag supportedby a second cupped region of the saddle-shaped support; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the saddle-shaped support of FIG. 4,showing, in particular, two front hooks of two laundry bags adjacentlysupported by both first and second cupped regions of the saddle-shapedsupport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in manydifferent forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein bedescribed in detail, several specific embodiments, with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is intended as anexemplification of the principles of the present invention and is notintended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

A first embodiment of the present laundry sorter 10 is shown in FIGS.1-6 as comprising frame 20, supporting a plurality, in this embodimentthree, of substantially adjacent removable laundry bags 200. Frame 20may be constructed primarily of tubular steel or aluminum components andcomprises four vertical front posts 30, two vertical rear posts 40, twobottom horizontal tubes 50, two bottom side tubes 60, and two angledside support tubes 70. Each front post 30 comprises an elongated,vertically oriented support member.

Angled side support tubes 70 each connect a respective outer front post30 and rear post 40. Top rear horizontal tube 90 connects left and rightrear posts 40. Two L-shaped support tubes 80 each connect a respectiveinner front post 30 to top rear horizontal tube 90 via T-coupling 130.T-couplings 130 may be constructed of a relatively rigid plasticmaterial, and may include a cuff-shaped upper portion enabling asnap-fit engagement about top rear horizontal tube 90. T-couplings 130may optionally include two opposing depressions or recessed regions tosecure supported rear hooks 253 associated with laundry bags 200 againstunwanted lateral movement.

Another form of T-couplings 120 connect two inner front posts 30 tofront bottom horizontal tubes 50, and may likewise be constructed of arelatively rigid plastic material. Two bottom side tubes 60 each connecta respective outer front post 30 and rear post 40. Wire mesh surface 100is disposed across front and rear bottom horizontal tubes 50.

Caster wheels 110 are coupled to the bottom ends of each of outer frontposts 30 and rear posts 40, permitting laundry sorter 20 to be rolledabout.

As best seen in FIGS. 4-6, four saddle-shaped laundry bag supports 150are disposed atop respective front posts 30. Each saddle-shaped support150 comprises a top saddle-shaped surface having two opposing outerrisers 154, having a first cupped region 151 and a second cupped region152, separated by a center riser 153. Saddle-shaped support 150 may beconstructed of a relatively rigid plastic material. Each cupped regioncomprises a depression, sunken region, recess or hollow disposedproximate a top surface of saddle-shaped support 150.

As best seen in FIG. 1, laundry sorter 10 further comprises threeremovable laundry bags 200, each comprising fabric body 210. Fabric body210 may be generally parallelepiped on shape, and may include internalstiffeners about its vertical, top and bottom edges to inhibit foldingor collapse of the fabric, such that laundry bag 200 substantiallyretains its generally parallelepiped configuration. Top opening 220 oflaundry bag 200 is generally rectangular in configuration, and is angledor canted forward, such that front edge 221 is below rear edge 222,further facilitating the placement of garments into laundry bag 200.

Fabric body 210 of laundry bag 200 further comprises four side loops230, each extending vertically from a side surface of fabric body 210and each disposed proximate a respective corner of top opening 220. Twohanger handles 250 are coupled to each fabric body 210 using side loops230. Each hanger handle 250 may be constructed of a relatively rigidmaterial such as steel or aluminum, and comprises arcuate centralcarrying region 251, front hook 252 and rear hook 253. Two linearregions 254 of hanger handle 250 are disposed on either side of centralcarrying region 251 and adjacent front hook 252 and rear hook 253.Hanger handles 250 are attached to fabric body 210 by passing front hook252 and rear hook 253 through respective side loops 230, until each sideloop 230 is disposed about an associated linear region 254.

Each laundry bag 250 is releasably attachable at a predeterminedposition of frame 20, with frame 20 supporting front hook 252 and rearhook 253. Specifically, rear hook 253 is disposed about a top region ofrear horizontal tube 90. And may be retained in position in cooperationwith T-coupling 130, as described above. Simultaneously, front hook 252is disposed atop an associated saddle-shaped laundry bag support 150,nestled within opposing raised side surfaces of either first cuppedregion 151 and second cupped region 152. As shown in FIG. 4, thesaddle-shaped support 150 associated with leftmost front post 30supports front hook 252 of a leftmost-positioned laundry bag 200 onlyupon second cupped region 152, with first cupped region 151 being leftunused. As shown in FIG. 5, the saddle-shaped support 150 associatedwith rightmost front post 30 supports front hook 252 of arightmost-positioned laundry bag 200 only upon first cupped region 151,with second cupped region 252 being unused. As shown in FIG. 6, thesaddle-shaped supports 150 associated with each inner front post 30 eachsupports a first front hook 252 of a first laundry bag 200 upon firstcupped region 151, and a second front hook 252 of a second laundry bag200 upon second cupped region 252.

As can be seen, through the use of laundry bag handle supports disposedatop vertical posts, coupled with the absence of a top horizontal tubeor similar frame structure that presents an obstruction proximate thefront of the frame, each laundry bag may be removed through anassociated forward opening region of the frame, by raising the hangerhandles only slightly, such that the front and back hooks of the hangerhandles clear the saddle shaped support supporting them, therebypermitting the laundry bag to then be carried forward, towards the userand out of the interior of the laundry sorter's frame. Accordingly, eachlaundry bag need not be raised above the height of the frame in order toremove it from the frame, as would be required by some prior art, toploading laundry sorters.

Although the previously described embodiment discloses a laundry sorterconsisting of three laundry bags 200, with a frame that includes twoinner front posts 30, differently sized laundry sorters having differentnumbers of supported laundry bags are also contemplated by the presentinvention, including, but not limited to: i) a frame 20 supporting asingle laundry bag 200, with no inner front posts 30, and two outerfront posts, 30, each having a saddle-shaped laundry bag support 150disposed atop the front post 30; ii) a frame 20 supporting two laundrybags 200, with a single inner front post 30 and two outer front posts30, each having a saddle-shaped laundry bag support 150 disposed atopthe front post 30; and iii) a frame 20 supporting four laundry bags 200,with three single inner front posts 30 and two outer front posts 30,each having a saddle-shaped laundry bag support 150 disposed atop thefront post 30.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblein light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood thatwithin the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practicedother than as specifically described. Various modifications, changes andvariations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details ofperforming the various steps of the invention disclosed herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. The presentdisclosure is intended to exemplify and not limit the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment storage hamper, comprising: a framehaving a top side having a top opening, a bottom side, a rear side, aleft side, a right side, and a front side, a first outer support memberdisposed at the left side of the frame, a second outer support memberdisposed at the right side of the frame, and at least one front openingdisposed between the first outer support member and the second outersupport member and extending through the front side of the frame; and atleast one laundry bag removably supported by the frame, each of thefirst and second outer support members supporting a portion of at leastone laundry bag; wherein the frame does not include a top fronthorizontal support member extending from the first outer support memberto the second outer support member across the front side of the frameand proximate the top side of the frame, thereby permitting at least onelaundry bag to be pulled outward through the front side of the framethrough a front opening of the frame and without requiring the at leastone first laundry bag to be removed by raising the at least one laundrybag through the top opening of the frame.
 2. The invention according toclaim 1, wherein: the frame includes a first inner support memberdisposed between the first outer support member and the second outersupport member, and at least two front openings disposed between thefirst outer support member and the second outer support member andextending through the front side of the frame, including first andsecond front openings disposed on opposing sides of the first innersupport member; and at least two laundry bags are removably supported bythe frame, each of the first and second outer support members supportinga portion of a laundry bag, the first inner support member supporting afirst laundry bag on a first side of the first inner support member anda second laundry bag on a second, opposing side of the first innersupport member; wherein the frame does not include a top fronthorizontal support member extending from the first outer support memberto the second outer support member across the front side of the frameand proximate the top side of the frame, the frame does not include atop front horizontal support member extending from the first outersupport member to the first inner support member across the front sideof the frame and proximate the top side of the frame, and the frame doesnot include a top front horizontal support member extending from thefirst inner support member to the second outer support member across thefront side of the frame and proximate the top side of the frame, therebypermitting both the first laundry bag and the second laundry bag to bepulled outward through the front side of the frame through respectivefront openings without requiring either the first laundry bag or thesecond laundry bag to be removed by raising either the first laundry bagor the second laundry bag through the top opening of the frame.
 3. Theinvention according to claim 2, wherein: the frame further includes asecond inner support member disposed between the first inner supportmember and the second outer support member, the at least two laundrybags comprise at least three laundry bags; and the second inner supportmember supporting the second laundry bag on a first side of the secondinner support member and a third laundry bag on a second, opposing sideof the second inner support member, wherein the frame does not include atop front horizontal support member extending from the first outersupport member to the second inner support member across the front sideof the frame and proximate the top side of the frame, the frame does notinclude a top front horizontal support member extending from the firstinner support member to the second inner support member across the frontside of the frame and proximate the top side of the frame, and the framedoes not include a top front horizontal support member extending fromthe second inner support member to the second outer support memberacross the front side of the frame and proximate the top side of theframe, thereby permitting the first, second and third laundry bags to bepulled outward through the front side of the frame through respectivefront openings without requiring the first, second or third laundry bagto be removed by raising the first, second or third laundry bag throughthe top opening of the frame.
 4. The invention according to claim 1,wherein at least one of the support members comprises a verticallyoriented post.
 5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein at leastone of the first outer support member and the second outer supportmember further includes at least one depression configured to supportand releasably retain at least a portion of an associated laundry bag.6. The invention according to claim 5, at least one laundry bag includesa handle, and the at least one depression is configured to support andreleasably retain at least a portion of the handle of the laundry bag.7. The invention according to claim 5, wherein at least one laundry bagincludes a hook, and the at least one depression is configured tosupport and releasably retain the hook of the laundry bag.
 8. Theinvention according to claim 2, wherein the first inner support memberfurther includes at least two depressions, each depression beingconfigured to releasably retain at least a portion of a separateassociated laundry bag.
 9. The invention according to claim 2, whereinat least one of the first outer support member, second outer supportmember, and first inner support member further includes a saddle-shapedmember.
 10. The invention according to claim 9, wherein thesaddle-shaped member includes at least one depression configured toreleasably retain at least a portion of an associated laundry bag. 11.The invention according to claim 9, wherein the saddle-shaped memberincludes at least two depressions, each configured to releasably retainat least a portion of an associated laundry bag.
 12. A garment storagehamper, comprising: a support structure having a top side having a topopening, and a front side, a first outer support member disposed at aone side of the support structure, a second outer support memberdisposed at another side of the support structure, and at least onefront opening disposed between the first outer support member and thesecond outer support member and extending through the front side of thesupport structure; and at least one laundry bag removably supported bythe support structure, each of the first and second outer supportmembers supporting a portion of at least one laundry bag; wherein thesupport structure does not include a top front horizontal support memberextending from the first outer support member to the second outersupport member across the front side of the support structure andproximate the top side of the support structure, thereby permitting atleast one laundry bag to be pulled outward through the front side of thesupport structure through a front opening of the support structure andwithout requiring the at least one first laundry bag to be removed byraising the at least one laundry bag through the top opening of thesupport structure.
 13. The invention according to claim 12, wherein: thesupport structure includes a first inner support member disposed betweenthe first outer support member and the second outer support member, andat least two front openings disposed between the first outer supportmember and the second outer support member and extending through thefront side of the support structure, including first and second frontopenings disposed on opposing sides of the first inner support member;and at least two laundry bags are removably supported by the supportstructure, each of the first and second outer support members supportinga portion of a laundry bag, the first inner support member supporting afirst laundry bag on a first side of the first inner support member anda second laundry bag on a second, opposing side of the first innersupport member; wherein the support structure does not include a topfront horizontal support member extending from the first outer supportmember to the second outer support member across the front side of thesupport structure and proximate the top side of the support structure,the support structure does not include a top front horizontal supportmember extending from the first outer support member to the first innersupport member across the front side of the support structure andproximate the top side of the support structure, and the supportstructure does not include a top front horizontal support memberextending from the first inner support member to the second outersupport member across the front side of the support structure andproximate the top side of the support structure, thereby permitting boththe first laundry bag and the second laundry bag to be pulled outwardthrough the front side of the support structure through respective frontopenings without requiring either the first laundry bag or the secondlaundry bag to be removed by raising either the first laundry bag or thesecond laundry bag through the top opening of the support structure. 14.The invention according to claim 13, wherein: the support structurefurther includes a second inner support member disposed between thefirst inner support member and the second outer support member, the atleast two laundry bags comprise at least three laundry bags; and thesecond inner support member supporting the second laundry bag on a firstside of the second inner support member and a third laundry bag on asecond, opposing side of the second inner support member, wherein thesupport structure does not include a top front horizontal support memberextending from the first outer support member to the second innersupport member across the front side of the support structure andproximate the top side of the support structure, the support structuredoes not include a top front horizontal support member extending fromthe first inner support member to the second inner support member acrossthe front side of the support structure and proximate the top side ofthe support structure, and the support structure does not include a topfront horizontal support member extending from the second inner supportmember to the second outer support member across the front side of thesupport structure and proximate the top side of the support structure,thereby permitting the first, second and third laundry bags to be pulledoutward through the front side of the support structure throughrespective front openings without requiring the first, second or thirdlaundry bag to be removed by raising the first, second or third laundrybag through the top opening of the support structure.
 15. The inventionaccording to claim 12, wherein at least one of the support memberscomprises a vertically oriented post.
 16. The invention according toclaim 12, wherein at least one of the first outer support member and thesecond outer support member further includes at least one depressionconfigured to support and releasably retain at least a portion of anassociated laundry bag.
 17. The invention according to claim 12, whereinat least one laundry bag includes a handle, and the at least onedepression is configured to support and releasably retain at least aportion of the handle of the laundry bag.
 18. The invention according toclaim 16, wherein at least one laundry bag includes a hook, and the atleast one depression is configured to support and releasably retain thehook of the laundry bag.
 19. The invention according to claim 12,wherein the first inner support member further includes at least twodepressions, each depression being configured to releasably retain atleast a portion of a separate associated laundry bag.
 20. The inventionaccording to claim 12, wherein at least one of the first outer supportmember, second outer support member, and first inner support memberfurther includes a saddle-shaped member.